The Bureau is amending the official commentary that interprets the requirements of the Bureau’s Regulation Z (Truth in Lending) to reflect a change in the asset-size threshold for certain creditors to qualify for an exemption to the requirement to establish an escrow account for a higher-priced mortgage loan based on the annual percentage change in the average of the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the 12-month period ending in November.

The adjustment to the escrows exemption asset-size threshold will also increase a similar threshold for small-creditor portfolio and balloon-payment qualified mortgages. Balloon-payment qualified mortgages that satisfy all applicable criteria, including being made by creditors that have (together with certain affiliates) total assets below the threshold, are also excepted from the prohibition on balloon payments for high-cost mortgages.

ANNUAL ADJUSTMENTSDec. 21, 2016
The exemption threshold is adjusted to increase to $2.069 billion from $2.052 billion. The adjustment is based on the 0.8 percent increase in the average of the CPI-W for the 12-month period ending in November 2016. Therefore, creditors with assets of less than $2.069 billion (including assets of certain affiliates) as of December 31, 2016, are exempt, if other requirements of Regulation Z also are met, from establishing escrow accounts for higher-priced mortgage loans in 2017. This asset limit will also apply during a grace period, in certain circumstances, with respect to transactions with applications received before April 1 of 2018.

Dec. 23, 2015
The exemption threshold is adjusted to decrease to $2.052 billion from $2.060 billion. The adjustment is based on the 0.4 percent decrease in the average of the CPI-W for the 12-month period ending in November 2015. Therefore, creditors with assets of less than $2.052 billion (including assets of certain affiliates) as of December 31, 2015, are exempt, if other requirements of Regulation Z also are met, from establishing escrow accounts for higher-priced mortgage loans in 2016. This asset limit will also apply during a grace period, in certain circumstances, with respect to transactions with applications received before April 1 of 2017.

Dec. 29, 2014
The exemption threshold is adjusted to increase to $2.060 billion from $2.028 billion. The adjustment is based on the 1.1 percent increase in the average of the CPI-W for the 12-month period ending in November 2014. Therefore, creditors with assets of $2.060 billion or less as of December 31, 2014, are exempt, if other requirements of Regulation Z also are met, from establishing escrow accounts for higher-priced mortgage loans in 2015.

Dec. 30, 2013
The exemption threshold is adjusted to increase to $2.028 billion from $2 billion. The adjustment is based on the 1.4 percent increase in the average of the CPI-W for the 12-month period ending in November 2013. Therefore, creditors with assets of $2.028 billion or less as of December 31, 2013, are exempt, if other requirements of Regulation Z also are met, from establishing escrow accounts for higher-priced mortgage loans in 2014.

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